7 Signs Your SDS Management System Isn’t Working
Each year, an estimated 160 million people suffer work-related illnesses globally. Another 340 million suffer occupational hazards. Collectively, work-related accidents and diseases cause the death of 2.3 million people.
From these statistics, it’s clear that business owners need to reevaluate work environments and implement foolproof safety strategies. One way to do so is by using safety data sheets. A safety data sheet is a document that contains information about the hazards of a product and the steps that should be taken to avoid them.
To optimize the effectiveness of safety data sheets, you need a reliable SDS management system. Such a system ensures that your workers have the latest and greatest information on hazardous materials.
But what happens when your safety data management system isn’t working? How would you know? Here are seven signs that your SDS management system needs some attention.
1. You Constantly Have to Manage Safety Hazards and Incidents
SDS management involves keeping track of information and ensuring everyone is up-to-date on the latest safety procedures. SDS software helps ensure that this happens, taking much of the stress out of safety data management.
The software helps you automate all of that so you can focus on more important things. It keeps track of SDS documents and helps you create and distribute custom safety training programs. And if there’s ever an incident, the SDS software will help you investigate and document everything that happened.
If you find that you have to manage safety hazards and incidents manually, it’s a sign that your system isn’t working. It’s time to replace your current system with another software solution that provides the SDS help you need.
2. Employees Are Not Following the Safety Procedures
When employees don’t follow the safety procedures, it puts themselves and others at risk. An SDS management system is meant to ensure that employees are aware of the hazards of a product and are taking the necessary steps to avoid them.
But what if your employees aren’t following the safety procedures? It may be because your system isn’t working.
If you see this sign, it’s important to take action and make sure that your system is up to date and working properly. Employees should be trained on how to use the SDS management system and should follow the procedures laid out in it.
3. There Is a Lot of Paperwork and Bureaucracy
There’s no denying that safety management comes with a certain amount of paperwork and bureaucracy. Without documentation, it’s impossible to track progress or identify areas where improvements need to be made.
But an SDS management system is supposed to solve many of the issues associated with paperwork and bureaucracy. It’s supposed to make things easier, not harder.
If you find yourself bogged down in paperwork and red tape, it’s a sign that something needs to be changed. Maybe it’s time to streamline your procedures or invest in new software.
Whatever the solution, don’t ignore the problem. That’s how accidents happen.
4. Safety Training Is Not Up-To-Date or Effective
An SDS management plan helps ensure that employees are properly trained in using these materials and that they have the most current information on their hazards. However, if your SDS management plan is not up-to-date or effective, it could put your employees at risk.
Outdated safety training may not cover the latest hazards, and ineffective SDS management can lead to confusion and misinformation. The solution is to be sure to review it with a safety expert to ensure that it is compliant with current regulations and best practices.
5. You’re Not Getting the Reports You Need
Your SDS management system is supposed to make your life easier by giving you the information you need to make informed decisions. But if you’re not getting the reports you need, it’s not doing its job.
Maybe you’re not getting enough information about employee exposure levels. Or maybe you’re not getting timely reports when SDSs are updated. Whatever the problem is, it’s important to address it so you can make informed decisions about chemical safety in your workplace.
There are a few things that could be going wrong. In many cases, your SDS software isn’t configured properly. Regardless of the issue, you need to find a way to get the reports you need.
Otherwise, you’re just flying blind.
6. The System Is Too Expensive to Use
SDS management systems save businesses money by reducing costs associated with storing and managing safety data sheets. However, if a system is too expensive to use, it negates these cost savings.
When evaluating an SDS management system, consider the total cost of ownership, including set-up costs, data entry costs, and ongoing maintenance costs. If the system is too expensive to use, it’s a sign that your business may be better off without it.
7. The SDS Management System Isn’t Integrated With Other Systems
The importance of software integration cannot be overstated. After all, you aren’t going to use your SDS management software in isolation. SDS systems are designed to be compatible with other software, so if you can’t get yours to work together with your other systems, it indicates that something is wrong.
There are a few possible reasons for this: the data format may be incompatible, the systems may use different methods of authentication, or there may be a compatibility issue with the operating system.
Whatever the cause, it’s important to identify the problem and find a solution so that you can get your SDS system up and running smoothly.
Stay on Top of SDS Management
SDS management software can be a valuable tool, but only if it’s working properly. Otherwise, you might as well be keeping track of your SDSs with a pencil and paper. SDSs need to be up-to-date, training needs to be effective and integrated with the system, and SDS management needs to be as easy as possible for all involved.
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